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Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Family planning surgeries dip at Madurai UPHCs
Madurai: Despite increased awareness, family planning surgeries done at urban primary health centres (UPHCs) in Madurai city have seen a gradual decline over the past three years, according to official data. Family planning operation theatres going defunct in UPHCs temporarily are among the reasons cited for the decline. Health department officials told TOI that three UPHCs under Madurai corporation, at Sellur, K Pudur, and Ansari Nagar, which are upgraded community health centres, have facilities for performing family planning surgeries such as vasectomy and tubal ligation. The number of family planning surgeries performed at the three UPHCs came down from 173 in 2022-2023 to 57 in 2024-2025 till March. In fact, only 18 family planning surgeries were performed at K Pudur UPHC during the period, and the operation theatre was defunct for a while. At Ansari Nagar UPHC as well, only five family planning surgeries were recorded in 2024-2025. Health activist A Veronica Mary said the decline not only leads to more referrals to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) but often discourages people from opting for family planning surgeries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "Access to getting family planning surgeries done should be made easy. People will not be willing to skip work for travel or wait for days to get appointments for such surgeries, which is what generally happens at GRH," she told TOI. "In private hospitals, family planning surgeries cost up to Rs40,000 or more, which some cannot afford," she said. She added that more specialist doctors need to be appointed and all UPHCs in the city should have facilities for the surgeries. Currently, there are only two anaesthetists and two gynaecologists appointed by Madurai corporation. City health officer (CHO) Dr P Indira said that until March 2025, only the operation theatre at Sellur UPHC was fully functional for family planning procedures. "We have now revived two more family planning operation theatres—at the UPHCs in K Pudur and Ansari Nagar. The K Pudur UPHC operation theatre became operational by the end of April, with around five family planning surgeries completed so far, including three vasectomies. In June, we also revived the Ansari Nagar theatre. With this, three UPHC operation theatres are now active in the city for family planning services, and people can approach them," she said.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Consider setting up infertility treatment centre in GRH soon: Madras HC
MADURAI: Noting that a proposal to set up an infertility treatment centre at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai is pending before the state government, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court observed that the government may consider establishing the centre expeditiously for the benefit of the public. A bench of justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete made the observation recently, while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by A Veronica Mary in this regard. Petitioner's counsel submitted that while responding to a similar petition last year, the government informed the court that a proposal has been submitted to start the facility at a cost of Rs 1.38 crore. Based on the same, the court had disposed of the plea. However, no decision has been taken on it, counsel said. The judges observed that it is a policy decision to be taken by the government by considering various factors and the court cannot substitute its opinion. However, when there are growing demands from the public, especially the poor, for such a facility, any welfare government has to consider the same in an effective manner. Since a proposal is pending, the government may consider establishing the centre as expeditiously as possible, the judges observed.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Consider establishing fertility centre at GRH expeditiously: HC to state
Madurai: Taking into account that a proposal was sent to the govt regarding establishing a fertility treatment centre at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai district, Madras high court observed that the govt may consider establishing the centre as expeditiously as possible. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by an activist, A Veronica Mary. The petitioner sought a direction to the state to establish a fertility centre with all infrastructures, including PGD-IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI), laser hatching, sperm bank, egg bank, embryo bank, time lapse, fibroid clinic, and other required facilities at GRH in Madurai, for the benefit of poor childless couples. T by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo he petitioner's counsel submitted that the petitioner earlier filed a similar petition in 2018. After the authorities submitted that the proposal for starting the fertility centre and to procure the equipment was sent to the govt for orders, the court disposed of the petition. Though a proposal was already forwarded, no final decision was taken by the govt for establishing the fertility treatment centre at GRH. Therefore, the petitioner filed the present petition. A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete observed that no doubt, it is a policy decision to be taken by the govt after considering various factors and mitigating circumstances. The court, not being an expert body in the medical field, cannot substitute its opinion regarding whether a particular treatment centre should be established. "However, there are growing demands from the public that such fertility centres are to be established strategically in various places enabling the poor people to take treatment. When the demand requires the establishment of such centres for the benefit of the people, any welfare govt has to consider the same in an effective manner," the judges observed. After suggesting the govt to consider establishing the centre expeditiously, the judges disposed of the petition.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
GRH sets up 50-bed Covid-19 ward as precaution
Madurai: Amid a recent uptick in Covid-19 cases across Tamil Nadu, Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai has set up a dedicated 50-bed isolation ward as a precautionary step. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While no active cases have been reported in the city, health officials are urging the public to wear masks and maintain hand hygiene in crowded areas. The isolation facility includes 30 beds for adults and 20 for children. GRH dean Dr L Arul Sundaresh Kumar said the hospital is fully prepared to manage any potential Covid-19 cases, following directions from the state health department. "We have ample supplies of medicines and oxygen. OPD staff have been instructed to wear masks and follow hygiene protocols. Covid testing will be conducted only if deemed necessary," he said, adding that fever cases are being closely monitored. Health officials clarified there has been no spike in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases. "There were a few fever cases after the rains, but no clusters or surges have been identified. People are advised to avoid self-medication and seek medical advice for persistent symptoms," an official said. Surveillance has also been tightened at Madurai airport. Passengers arriving from abroad with fever or cough are being screened and isolated if needed. A 16-member monitoring team has been deployed for airport vigilance. MSID:: 121652081 413 |
The Hindu
7 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
GRH doctors perform cochlear implant surgery on 238 children in nine years
A total of 238 children have successfully undergone cochlear implant surgery at Government Rajaji Hospital here in the last nine years, a Right to Information Act reply has revealed. According to A. Veronica Mary, a Madurai-based social activist, who filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court seeking cochlear implant surgery at GRH, said that the surgery would at least cost ₹10 lakh if done in a private hospital. As the procedure involves surgically inserting an electronic device into the inner ear (cochlea) to restore hearing for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss, it would be great help for children who have lost hearing in the birth or during their childhood, she added. The court, learning of its importance, that too in a government hospital in a place like Madurai, which could serve many children from rural areas across the district and many southern districts, ordered the government to consider providing the surgery at GRH, said Ms. Veronica Mary. Following that, in 2016, the surgery was successfully conducted on two children at GRH. And, in that year itself, an additional 34 children benefited from the procedure, she stated. The RTI, which was sought to learn about the success rate of the surgery in the hospital, has shown how it has been benefiting the children from the district and other nearby areas, she added. Further, she noted that though the number of surgeries has seen a downfall in years between, it had still helped a total of 228 children. The surgery, which has been rendered to 36 people in 2016, has been done to 25 in 2017, 32 in 2018, 39 in 2019, 8 in 2020, 23 in 2021, 38 in 2022, 16 in 2023, 10 in 2024 and one in 2025, the RTI data said. As about two in 1,000 children are congenitally affected with hearing loss in the country, as per the available studies, A. Alaguvadivel, Professor and Head of ENT department, Madurai Medical College, said that the treatment was essential and helpful for them. The procedure could be done only within 2-6 years, he said. Many parents, especially from rural areas, were hesitant to opt for surgery to address the issue, but by the time they were convinced for the surgery most of the children would have cross the age limit, he noted. People think of hearing aid as a potential option, but the accuracy achieved through surgery could not be expected from a hearing aid, Dr. Alaguvadivel said. Further, post-surgery, the children would have to undergo Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT), to attain the full benefit of the surgery, he added. While they would be asked to visit the hospital at least twice a week for two years for the therapy after the surgery, many would not continue with the therapy. Due to that, the full benefit could be experienced by the children, he added. Many were hesitant to undergo the surgery due to the practical complications attached with the procedure, but he noted that the doctors, after identifying the issue during the screening which would be done following the birth, would elaborate the parents on the perks of undergoing the surgery. L. Arul Sundaresh Kumar, Dean, GRH, said, 'The surgery was just 40% of the treatment, the rest lies in the hands of the parents who train them and bring them to the hospital for auditory visual therapy.' 'There has been a paradigm shift in the availability of options of communication for people with hearing problems. While it started with just a sign language as a means of communication, it had evolved to the level of surgery and also therapies,' he added. As the equipment used in surgery was same for all people, the success depends on the post-surgery therapy for language understanding, Dr. Arul Sundaresh Kumar said.
